# Computer Software and Media Applications

> Computer Software and Media Applications is a field of study in the Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services area.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/computer-software-and-media-applications
- CIP code: 11.08 (Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services)
- Colleges offering it: 419 at its most common degree level

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 419 | $36,210 | $41,369 | $15,625 |
| Associate's | 329 | $30,878 | $39,598 | $14,625 |
| Bachelor's | 185 | $41,139 | $59,767 | $24,125 |
| Master's | 85 | $105,005 | $119,839 | $31,963 |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Doctoral | 8 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 68 | $85,400 | $104,433 | not reported |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [DigiPen Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/digipen-institute-of-technology-819) | Redmond, WA | $122,375 | $27,000 |
| [University of Southern California](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-southern-california-usc-3050) | Los Angeles, CA | $115,839 | $19,968 |
| [Wellesley College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/wellesley-college-3189) | Wellesley, MA | $98,816 | $11,875 |
| [DePaul University-Illinois](https://www.collegesref.com/college/depaul-university-illinois-795) | Chicago, IL | $96,616 | $22,500 |
| [Worcester Polytechnic Institute](https://www.collegesref.com/college/worcester-polytechnic-institute-3303) | Worcester, MA | $95,430 | not reported |
| [Rochester Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/rochester-institute-of-technology-2250) | Rochester, NY | $88,096 | $25,489 |
| [The New School](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-new-school-2749) | New York, NY | $75,792 | $20,625 |
| [University of Wisconsin-Stout](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-wisconsin-stout-3091) | Menomonie, WI | $74,146 | $23,000 |
| [University of Washington-Bothell Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-washington-bothell-campus-3074) | Bothell, WA | $71,462 | not reported |
| [University of California-Irvine](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-irvine-uci-2883) | Irvine, CA | $69,981 | $16,416 |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Computer and Information Systems Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-and-information-systems-managers): $175,140 median pay
- [Computer and Information Research Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-and-information-research-scientists): $140,300 median pay
- [Data Warehousing Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/data-warehousing-specialists): $139,500 median pay
- [Database Architects](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/database-architects): $139,500 median pay
- [Software Developers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/software-developers): $135,980 median pay
- [Business Intelligence Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/business-intelligence-analysts): $120,230 median pay
- [Clinical Data Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/clinical-data-managers): $120,230 median pay
- [Data Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/data-scientists): $120,230 median pay
- [Database Administrators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/database-administrators): $104,620 median pay
- [Video Game Designers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/video-game-designers): $104,000 median pay
- [Web and Digital Interface Designers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/web-and-digital-interface-designers): $104,000 median pay
- [Special Effects Artists and Animators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/special-effects-artists-and-animators): $102,030 median pay
- [Computer Programmers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-programmers): $100,390 median pay
- [Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-science-teachers-postsecondary): $96,980 median pay
- [Web Developers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/web-developers): $92,650 median pay
- [Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/career-technical-education-teachers-postsecondary): $63,820 median pay
- [Graphic Designers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/graphic-designers): $62,960 median pay

## More in Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

- [Computer and Information Sciences, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/computer-and-information-sciences-general): 866 colleges
- [Computer Science](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/computer-science): 751 colleges
- [Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/computer-information-technology-administration-and-management): 642 colleges
- [Computer Programming](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/computer-programming): 405 colleges
- [Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/computer-systems-networking-and-telecommunications): 372 colleges
- [Information Science/Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/information-science-studies): 265 colleges
- [Data Entry/Microcomputer Applications](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/data-entry-microcomputer-applications): 109 colleges
- [Data Processing](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/data-processing): 101 colleges

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/